NASA Celebrates Earth Day on Social Media With #NoPlaceLikeHome

NASA is asking everyone to celebrate Earth Day by sharing videos and pictures on social media of their favorite places on Earth using the hashtag #NoPlaceLikeHome. Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22, to inspire appreciation for and awareness of earth’s environment. More than 1,800 planets have been discovered around the world by scientists from NASA, but there is a lot to love right here on Earth.

Earth Day is celebrated with performances outdoors around the world where groups, individuals and organizations perform acts of service to enhance the earth. Some plant trees, clean up litter, recycle containers and the like. Many are encouraged to sign petitions about reversing environmental destruction and putting a halt to global warming.

Earth Day was first organized in 1970 and founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson. The hope for the celebration was to promote respect for life and ecology on the planet and to heighten awareness of the continued problems of soil, water and air pollution. People unite all over to appreciate and display respect for Earth’s environment.

In honor of Earth Day, John McConnell designed the Earth Flag as a “flag for all people”. It was made from weather-resistant, recyclable polyester and includes a two-sided image of the Earth from space on a dark blue field. People describe Earth Day with symbols including the recycling symbol, an image of a flower, leaves or tree depicting growth, or of planet earth. Typical colors for the day include green, blue and brown.

Earth not only has life, but an atmosphere, forests, oceans, deserts, snow, ice sheets and rain. All of these are things that NASA’s 20 Earth-orbiting missions measure and observe in their quest to build the most comprehensive understanding possible of this dynamic planet called Earth.

NASA has already began sharing their views of Earth from scientists at work in the field, research aircraft and satellites. The agency is posting on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Vine and others. All of their posts contain the hashtag #NoPlaceLikeHome. While views from space can be exciting and awe-inspiring, NASA wants everyone to join in and share their personal images. It wants Earth lovers to show the world from their viewpoint displaying what makes their part of the Earth special.

The vantage point of space is NASA’s channel for increasing understanding of Earth, safeguarding its future and improving life on the planet. The agency does this by sharing knowledge acquired and working with other institutions around the world to exchange new insights into how the Earth is changing. NASA monitors the Earth’s vital signs from space, air and land by using a fleet of satellites and ambitious airborne and ground-based observation campaigns. It is constantly developing new ways to study and observe the planet’s interconnected natural systems with long-term data records.

Last year the agency asked for pictures during their Global Selfie campaign for Earth Day. This year it wants to include videos by using platforms such as Instagram and Vine. As people join the “movement” by sharing the world views of their corner of the Earth; the question NASA wants to know is:

What is your favorite place on Earth?

Whichever social media platform one favors, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is asking everyone to join the fun. In addition to the social media outlets already referenced, Earth lovers can join the Google+ and Facebook events. Earth Day is a time to celebrate the place over seven billion people call home. On April 22, NASA is asking everyone to get involved by pledging to spend one day sharing videos and pictures of their favorite places on Earth using the hashtag #NoPlaceLikeHome.